Giants clinch NL West title

San Francisco Giants Freddy Sanchez (21) singled to center, to bring in Sanchez scored 1-0 run in the third inning against San Diego Padres in the third inning at AT&T Park at San Francisco, Calif. on Sunday, October 3, 2010. (Josie Lepe/Mercury News)

It's guaranteed: The Giants are champions of the National League West.

They tortured their fans past the breaking point, all the way to the final out of the 162nd game. But in their final chance to clinch on the friendly and frenzied shores of McCovey Cove, their pitching held firm and so did their spirit in a 3-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday afternoon.

Jonathan Sanchez stamped himself into franchise lore, fulfilling his impulsive prophecy from two months ago that the Giants would pass the Padres and wouldn't look back. He pitched masterfully into the sixth inning and also struck thunder with a triple that springboarded the Giants' two-run rally against Padres ace Mat Latos in the third.

"I was right," said a beaming Sanchez, his champagne-soaked shirt sticking to his skin. "I believed in the team, you know? We're always together. Look at our team. Look at everybody. We have everything we need to win."

Brian Wilson struck out Will Venable for the final out, and stoic rookie Buster Posey leapt in pure elation as the Giants piled upon each other. The Padres, eliminated after leading the division most of the season, slumped away.

Pat Burrell, at the behest of manager Bruce Bochy, motioned for the players to take a victory lap around the field. Pablo Sandoval led the charge of this not-so-light brigade, extending hands to their hoarse-voiced, towel-waving fans.

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"Some fans weren't letting go," said Tim Lincecum, the presumed starter for Game 1 of the NL Division Series against the wild-card Atlanta Braves on Thursday at AT&T Park. "You can see how much they invested in our season. "... I'm just stuttering my words right now. I'm so excited to celebrate this and push forward."

The Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies earlier in the day, then sat back and watched; if the Giants had lost, the three teams would have finished in a three-way tie for two playoff spots, forcing the Giants to travel to San Diego to play a tiebreaker game today for the NL West title.

But Bochy sent a veiled message in a meeting earlier this weekend, telling the players to bring only the clothes on their backs Sunday. Sure enough, the charter jet kept its tires on the tarmac, and the Giants have three days to prepare for their first postseason series since 2003.

"I started believing when you could see the temperament of the club," general manager Brian Sabean said. "They're so determined and have such a strong will. They knew what they needed to do to punch the clock. And this is doubly special because we needed to make a statement against these guys. "... We needed to win the division."

The Padres beat the Giants in 12 of 18 games this season, but on the eve of the clincher, Sanchez privately repeated his guarantee to teammates that they would prevail. The left-hander, who has been traded a thousand times by armchair GMs, has a 1.03 ERA in his past seven starts.

"We couldn't replace him, so I don't know how we could've traded him," Sabean said. "It never came close."

Posey said: "You know what? This is one of those games that defines your career. For him to come out and have the poise he had "... Wow. You could tell he had it. I didn't see nerves. It was more pure focus."

On the 59th anniversary of the Shot Heard 'Round the World, the Giants didn't need the ghost of Bobby Thomson to inspire a ninth-inning miracle comeback. They led early when Sanchez hit his shocking, stand-up triple, and two of their most appreciative players jumped on fastballs for run-scoring hits.

Freddy Sanchez, who escaped a perennial cellar in Pittsburgh in a trade last year, singled up the middle. And Aubrey Huff, who played so many throwaway games for Tampa Bay and Baltimore in losing seasons, smoked a double that escaped Chris Denorfia's dive in center field.

Posey added to his legend, and his Rookie of the Year candidacy, with a solo homer in the eighth.

But an apparition might have been guiding Wilson in the ninth. He recorded his 48th save, matching the franchise record established by late and beloved closer Rod Beck in 1993.

"As far as I'm concerned, he still has the record and I'll stand beside him," Wilson said. "I wanted to throw that last pitch, and I wanted my teammates to tackle me."

Wilson finished a compelling, 12-out performance from a bullpen that is unscored upon in its past 24 innings and has a 0.90 ERA in September. Santiago Casilla stranded both of Sanchez's runners in the sixth; Ramon Ramirez struck out Miguel Tejada on a 3-2 cutter to strand both of Casilla's runners in the seventh.

"I've had good staffs, but nothing like this," Bochy said. "I've got seven guys in the bullpen I'm comfortable putting in any situation. We've got some tough decisions with this playoff roster."

For the first time since 1971, the Giants clinched a postseason berth with a victory in their final regular-season game; Juan Marichal pitched a five-hit complete game that day at old San Diego Stadium to make the Giants NL West champions.

"Yeah, but he didn't hit a triple," said Jonathan Sanchez, chin raised.

The last time the Giants headed to the postseason, they were a team of veteran role players cobbled around Barry Bonds while the surly slugger remained near the height of his powers. It's a much different dynamic now, led by a homegrown rotation that could take the Giants deep into October.

"In the past we lived and died with one superstar player," Sabean said. "There aren't any superstars on this team. There might be a couple rising stars, but our organization is built on pitching. I can't say enough for our scouts and player-development people, especially Dick Tidrow.

"And quite frankly, I've got to thank (former managing partner) Peter Magowan and even (current boss) Bill Neukom for keeping me around for two tours of duty. A lot of organizations wouldn't have allowed us to soldier on and have some continuity. They allowed us to soldier on, and they were proven right."